New York Catocala

**8878 Catocala alabamae; Alabama Underwing; 30-40mm; yes; Uniform greenish-grey forewing may have thin but dark (contrasting) medial lines or they may be nearly absent (titania); alabamae often displays dash in median/anal angle area, missing or nearly absent in titania. Brown shading between post medial line and subterminal line. Hindwing inner black band thin, outer band thick, truncated before being followed by large black dot. Early flight season.

TONHS Catocala jair; 35-40mm. The moth is hard to distinguish from amica, but jair has broader, blunter forewings than amica and the post medial line of jair is straighter (much less dentate) than that of amica. The hindwings of both species seem identical.

**8878 TONHS Catocala amica; Girlfriend; 35-40mm. The black postmedian band is absent from the dorsal (upper) surface of the hindwing, but it is present on the ventral surface. Moths come in to lights and to bait. Catocala amica lineella is sometimes treated as a subspecies; sometimes as a distinct species. John Himmelman image.

** 8878.1 lineella; Little Lined Underwing; 35-40mm. No marginal black band on hindwing. Fw subreniform spot pale & boldy outlined with black. Similar light brownish-gray patch in upper half of median area near pm line, just between subreniform spot & am line is similarly coloured light patch paralleling am lne. Reniform spot dark, less distinct & in generally darker area. "Curvifascia": diffuse black-brown arc from mid costa region toward mid outer margin.

** 8874 TONHS Catocala minuta; Little Underwing; 35-45mm. Fw grey-brown, greatly widened (near costa only), white, st line. Hw outer black band unbroken & inner band forms complete loop, brown scaling along im. "eureka" Schwarz: blackish area between am & pm lines; "hiseri" Cassino: dull grey fw, very faint markings; "mellitula" Hulst: blackish basal patch from costa to im; "obliterata" Schwarz: melanic form, almost completely black fw; "parvula" W. H. Edwards: broad dark patch along fw im.

** 8873 TONHS similis; Similar Underwing; 35-45mm. Pale triangular patch from pm line along costa, pointed at apex, & light-coloured, tear-shaped reniform spot distinguish this species. Subreniform spot projects considerably beyond reniform anteriorally at right angle to line of subreniform. Many specimens also have small, light coloured, flattened oval spot about halfway between pm & am lines at about midpoint of reniform spot. Pm line almost entirely straight.

TONHSdulciola; Quiet/Sweet Underwing, wingspan: 40-45mm; A double, black, almost smooth antemedial line (inner line broken only near the costa) with other lines obscure distinguishes dulciola. There is also a dark basal dash on an otherwise plain, light grey forewing.

Little Yellow-Orange Underwings: Wingspans: 35-56mm These tend to be slightly larger on average than preceding group. ** 8876 TONHS Catocala micronympha, the Little Nymph Underwing; 35-50mm. Usual specimens have grey forewings shaded with green, brown, black & white tints. Usually a darkened band passing from costa through reniform spot to outer margin. There is high variability with this species. Full size Joe Garris photo of C. micronympha form hero. ** 8877 TONHS connubialis, Connubial Underwing; 35-50mm). Fw highly variable; several different forms: "sancta" Hulst: typical form, forewings with white ground colour & sharply contrasting black lines & markings. Brown shading between post medial and subterminal lines; "cordelia" H. Edwards:s coloured as above, markings are faint; "pulverulenta" Brower: grey-green forewings with faint markings, sometimes none; "broweri" Muller: melanic form with fws dark green, almost black. Hw has separate anal spot and outer band ends with a straight cut. ** 8864 TONHS Catocala grynea ; Woody Underwing; 40-50mm The forewing is a dull greenish grey with orangey-brown shading along the inner margin. The antemedial, median and postmedial lines are quite faint. Praeclara is somewhat similar but has a break in the brown shading between the am and pm lines. Praeclara also has a paler orange hindwing color. Tim Dyson image. ** 8865 TONHS praeclara; Praeclara Underwing; 40-50mm. Fw pale greenish-grey with considerable contrasting brown shading beyond post medial line. There is a black basal dash very close to the inner margin and another dash, higher up in the median area. Note the contrasting shapes of the reniform and subreniform spots. ** 8858 TONHS Catocala crataegi WO; Hawthorn Underwing; 40-50mm. Determination is based on dark (black) shading in forewing basal area continuing along inner margin to anal angle and brown shading beyond postmedial line. There is also a definite greenish cast to median area. The lower wing has the outer black band, broken near the anal angle, distinguishing crataegi from blandula. Tim Dyson image. TONHS Catocala pretiosa Precious Underwing; 40-50mm; This species is quite similar to crataegi and mira, but pretiosa has considerable creamy white colouration in the median area. The lower portion of the basal area is also light, not dark as in crataegi. The inner black band of the hindwing forms a loop and the outer band is broken (not complete as in mira, followed by a dot that tapers to the anal angle. ** 8775 TONHS antinympha; Sweetfern Underwing; 45-55mm. The very dark grey, almost black, forewing ground colour distinguishes antinympha. There is some brown shading in the subreniform spot and also just outside the postmedial line. The hindwing is amber to pale orange. There is also the form multoconspicua Reiff, 1919 with a pale, almost white subreniform spot. Tim Dyson image. ** 8772 TONHS clintoni; Clinton's Underwing, wingspan 45-55mm. The black basal dash distinguishes clintoni from illecta and abbreviatella, both of which lack the dash. Vernon Brou image. ** 8772 TONHS gracilis; Graceful Underwing, wingspan 40-45mm. Gracilis closely resembles sordida but the hindwing loop is not complete in gracilis as it is in sordida. Gracilis also tends to have a darker inner margin and there is frequently (99% of the time, Dale Schweitzer, via Joe Garris), but not always, a basal dash. Sordida never has the basal dash. ** 8776 TONHS coelebs; Old Maid Underwing 54-56mm. The gray region from the forewing pm line to the outer margin readily distinguishes this species. The fringe is gray on the lower wing from the brief orange dash at the hindwing apex to the anal angle. Tim Dyson image. ** 8777 Catocala badia; Bay Underwing, 50-60mm. Fw buff-brown, deeper brown in basal area and within pm line; paler beyond pm line; lines faint, barely traceable. HW yellow-orange with black bands; often with terminal yellow-orange line at base of fringe. NH. specimens may appear transitional to coelebs, having the sharp bend of upper part of pm area and more distinct lines of that species."

Midsized Orange-Salmon-Red-Scarlet Underwings: Wingspans: 50-72mm ** 8857 Catocala ultronia; Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. Fws typically gray-brown, with a distinct and very dark inner margin and characteristic light brown patch, underscored by very dark arc, near wingtip. Underwings can be yellow to orange to salmon. ** 8857 Catocala ultronia form lucinda; Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. In form lucinda most of the forewing is bright grey. On all forms there is extensive orange-salmon colouration on hw ventral surface, and there is a dark discal lunule. Catocala ultronia, form nigrescens, the Ultronia Underwing, wingspan: 50-63mm. In the melanic form nigrescens, the dorsal forewing is very dark. Even darker subapical arc, basal dash and dash near anal angle are still visible. Dark basal hairs on hindwing. Harold J. Vermes slide, used with permission from his son. Catocala ultronia form celia. In form celia there is a wide, light grey band separating a dark region along inner margin and a dark patch near the apex. The ventral surface of forewings of all forms has a generous suffusion of orange-salmon scales in the lower half of the median area. Catocala ultronia, East Hampton, Suffolk County, September 22, 2009, Hugh McGuinness ** 8779 TONHS serena Serene Underwing. Head, collar & abdomen are brown, thorax is grey. Am & pm lines thin but very dark & distinct on drab, almost uniformly olive-grey forewing. The black marginal band of the lower wings is indented at the center, and the relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels this indentation. Basal hairs are brown. Catocala serena courtesy of Carroll Rudy, July 28, Calumet County. TONHS Catocala herodias gerhardi; 55-65mm. Fw grey & brown, generally lacking any trace of medial lines. Veins somewhat darkened in median areas with white streaks from pm line to outer fringe, running parallel to im. Distinctive very light, almost white, border along forewing costa. #8778 TONHS Catocala habilis; 55-65mm. Note large "M" on thorax & "pork chop" shaped, light coloured subreniform spot becoming very dark in constriction at juncture with pm line. Pm line narrow, dark & distinct, outwardly lined with narrow suffusion of white scales, then broader band of brown scales, then broader suffusion of white scales up to regular dentation of st line. Always significant "bleeding" of yellow-orange to salmon scales into hw fringes. Large reniform spot has brown center, faintly edged with black, then white, then black again. #8817 TONHS briseis; Briseis Underwing; 60-70mm. Fws predominantly mottled dark-grey-brown with some lighter areas 1) between pm & st lines, 2) at base of am & pm lines along im, & 3) over subreniform spot running diagonally toward costa. Pm lines without greatly elongated & sharly pointed "teeth" near apex. Hw fringe white & unbroken & inner black band (fairly even) reaches inner margin. Tim Dyson image. #8795 TONHS Catocala palaeogama ; 60-70mm.> Subreniform spot closed, does not approach pm line, smaller than in C. habilis. All forms have characteristic orange, heavily barred fringe to apex, & irregular bands on hws. Hw basal median area heavily suffused with dark brown to black scales. Dark bar in outer half of median area, paralleling inner margin halfway between inner margin & light, closed subreniform spot. #8795 TONHS Catocala palaeogama form phalanga; 60-70mm. In this form, the forewing basal area and subterminal area are very dark against a much lighter background. The dark bar in the outer half of the median area, paralleling the inner margin halfway between the inner margin and the light, closed subreniform spot is especially evident. Joe Garris image. ** 8770 Catocala innubens; Betrothed; 55-72mm. TONHS Forewing is mottled with white, grey and brown, and subrenifrom spot tends to be lighter in colour, although it is sometimes obscured by an indistinct blackish bar which runs from middle of basal/thorax connection to just below much lighter apex at outer margin. Jim Vargo image. ** 8770 Catocala innubens form scintillans; Betrothed; 55-72mm. In form scintillans most of the basal area (all but lower third) and all of the median area of the forewing is dark reddish brown. The area outside the pm line is grey. Vernon A Brou image. ** 8851 TONHS Catocala coccinata; Scarlet; 57-70mm. Usually diffuse basal & anal dashes on otherwise light grey, mottled forewing. Hw fringe white (often with some salmon scaling); heavily checked. "Tooth" just below pair of elongated "teeth" much reduced, quite rounded, usually allowing considerable room for lighter patch of scales. Dark bar crosses thorax. Reniform spot tends be to light, often with greenish cast. Solid Black Underwings: Smallest to Largest, Similar Species Paired Catocala robinsonii Grote 1872 (Catocala) TONHS ** 8849 TONHS Catocala andromedae, Gloomy Underwing; 40-50mm. Black hws & dark grey hw fringe, dark inner margin of fws help to identify this species. Very dark "flying saucer" shape, adjoining subreniform spot to midpoint of antemedial line. The "teeth" of postmedian line are short and blunt, outwardly edged with white. Subterminal line is also outwardly edged with white. ** 8781 TONHS judith, Judith's Underwing; 45-55mm. One of smaller "black" underwings. Fw uniform light grey with thin and only slightly darkened antemedial, median and postmedial lines. No darkened dashes (slight anal dash) or transverse lines. Reniform area slightly darkened while area just before subterminal line is a bit lighter. Note absence of hw white fringe. Joe Garris photo. ** 8782 TONHS Catocala flebilis ; Mournful Underwing, wingspan: 54-65mm. Diffuse black band runs from basal area to outer margin just below apex, interrupted by pale grey subreniform spot. Reniform spot is filled with brown, additional brown outside the postmedial line. No anal dash as there is in angusi. ** 8773 TONHS Catocala epione ; Epione Underwing, wingspan: 55-65mm The pm line is squared and has a brown band and then a light band just outside the line. The hindwing is black with pure white fringe with no barring. John Himmelman image. ** 8790 TONHS Catocala dejecta, 56-73mm. Quite similar to Catocala retecta. Light coloured subreniform spot is also open, but has distinct "pork-chop" shape & separates much darker median area below subreniform spot from very light area to costa above spot. Lower quarter of submarginal area is also much darker in C. dejecta than in C. retecta. ** 8785 TONHS Catocala residua, the Residua Underwing; 60-73mm. Distinguished from Catocala obscura by grey hindwing fringe of residua. Catocala obscura has white to off-white fringe and tends to be less common in northern portions of its range. The forewing subterminal line/area of Catocala residua tends to be pale as is its open, elongated subreniform spot. Like C. obscura it is otherwise devoid of significant markings except for the hint of a dark bar running from the basal area through the reniform spot to the outer margin just below the apex. TONHS Catocala retecta; 60-75mm. Note the light coloured, elongated & open subreniform spot interrupting dark, diffuse ark running through center of wing from basal area (body-wing juncture) to forewing apex. Center of reniform spot is brown, brown area just below costa running to inner margin just outside pm line. The off-white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked along wing veins. Joe Garris image. ** 8784 TONHS obscura; the Obscure Underwing; 60-72mm. Dull, grey fws, usually void of any significant dashes or streaks, providing for easy identification. Antemedial, median & postmedial lines of obscura are faint and subterminal line region is only slightly paler than rest of fw. The hindwing fringe is off-white and lightly checked on the veins. Joe Garris photo. ** 8794 TONHS Catocala lacrymosa; Tearful Underwing; 60-82mm. The forewing is highly variable with a mixture of black, brown (wing tips and outside postmedial line) and dark grey scaling. There are usually whitish crescents, along the inner margin at the base of the antemedial and postmedial lines. The hindwings are black with white checkered fringe, turning black near the anal angle. ** 8783 TONHSCatocala angusi WO; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas distinguish angusi. Reniform spot has light brown filling. Hw fringe black except for apical white region. "lucetta": broad black band from basal area to om, broken by reniform & subreniform spots. ** 8783 Catocala angusi TONHS; Angus' Underwing, 60-74mm; Dark dashes/streaks in basal & anal areas. Reniform spot: light brown filling. Hw fringe black except for white region at apex. Form lucetta has broad black band from basal area to om, broken only by reniform & subreniform spots. James K. Adams image. ** 8791 TONHS Catocala insolabilis; Inconsolable; 65-75mm. Fw light grey with blackish shading along inner margin. Antemedial &postmedial lines are thin. Hw fringe very narrow and grey, becoming whiter toward apex. Ventral surface clearly distinguishes insolabis, being almost completely black except for some white in the basal area. Vernon A. Brou image. ** 8792 TONHS Catocala vidua; Widow; 70-80mm. Fw ground colour light grey. Distinguished dark arc running through top of reniform spot to just below apex. Heavy, dark anal and basal dashes, connecting toa dark median bar, running parallel to inner margin. The am line is thick and black in its upper half. The reniform spot consists of two almost concentric irregular ovals. Subreniform spot is light, open, but constricted as it meets pm line. Hw black with broad, white fringe, only lightly interrupted. Marie Winn image. Catocala vidua, East Hampton, Suffolk County, September 22, 2009, Hugh McGuinness Large Black Underwings (Banded): Wingspans: 70-80mm ** 8803 TONHS Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form clara: basal and subterminal areas predominantly white. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October. ** 8803 Catocala relicta ; Forsaken, White, Relict; 70-80mm: Considerable variation with regard to black/white concentrations on fws. Form phrynia: evenly dusted with grey over entire forewing. Typical specimens have basal and subterminal areas with blackish scales. Black hws, with brilliant even white inner band and white fringe, are distinctive. June until October, poplars and willows ** 8802 TONHS Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Several different forms. Pm line distinct, dark and has elongate pair of projections. Pm and am lines meet inner margin in relative proximity. Closed subreniform spot lighter than surrounding areas, shaped a bit like an arrowhead with point toward body. Hws are distinctive. Jean-Benoît Duval image. ** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Form ruperti: Forewings are almost uniform grey-brown with white scales outlining subterminal line. The hindwings are distinctive. Tim Dyson image. ** 8802 Catocala cerogama; Yellow-Banded; 70-80mm. Form bunkeri: Forewings are dark in median and basal areas. Hw golden band is reduced in thickness. Basal hairs are brown instead of yellow. The hindwings are distinctive. Tim Dyson image.

Large Orange-Salmon Underwings: Wingspans: 65mm, usually 70-95mm ** 8822 TONHS meskei; Meske's Underwing; 65-75mm. Fws less distinctly marked compared to unijuga, some red-orange at hindwing apex and just inside fringe along outer margin in meskei that is lacking in unijuga. Fw subreniform spot opened or connected to postmedian line. Hw postmedian band is nearly straight, turned in and tapering near anal angle. Tim Dyson image. ** 8801 TONHS Catocala ilia; Ilia; wingspan: 65-82mm. Several different forms, most have characteristic white area in and around reniform spot. Diffuse dark arc running from this spot to just below apex. Subreniform spot squarish, concave inner and outer edges and elongated constriction connecting it to pml. White dots near fw om in character with the overall "contrasting" appearance. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form conspicua In this form the entire reniform spot is heavily suffused with white scaling on an otherwise darker ground colour. Hence the form name "conspicua". Tim Dyson image. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form satanas In this melanic form the entire forewing, including the reniform spot is very dark. Hence the form name "satanas". The dark basal streak is still evident on this form. Tim Dyson image. ** 8801 Catocala ilia; Ilia; form normani In this semi-melanic form the entire forewing, excluding the reniform spot, is relatively dark. The brownish, kidney-shaped center of the reniform spot is outlined in white. The basal streak and subapical arc are still visible. Tim Dyson image. ** 8857.1 Catocala umbrosa; mm; Double brown am line, inward line fainter, filled with off white; reniform spot brown center outlined in black , off white and black again; subreniform, large, pale brown, closed. Pm line wit htwo elongated upper teeth, next tooth reduced, next two progressively longer, rounded, final lobe rounded and shorter. HW with dark scaling/hairs in basal median area along im ** 8772 Catocala consors WO; Consort; 70mm plus. Fw has irregular am & pm narrow black lines. Dark patch outside reniform & subreniform spots. The orange-yellow hindwing pm band tends to be narrow and irregularly zigzagged. Sometimes the band is wider and slightly less irregular. James K. Adams image. TONHS Catocala muliercula; Little Wife Underwing; Dark, distinct upper half am line runs obliquely toward anal angle, turns in two lobes to im; basal area dark brown; inner brown kidney shaped reniform spot, oulined in black then light then black again; open, lighter subreniform spot with light area from it to costa; median area greyish-blue-brown; subterminal area brown; terminal area greyish-blue-brown; lighter patch at apex. Hw dark bands thick, much dark scaling in basal area covering two thirds of region, joining inner black band to im. ** 8771 TONHS Catocala piatrix ; Penitent, wingspan: 68-84mm The forewing has a light-colored band/bar extending from the subreniform spot along the am line to the costa. The fringe of the hindwing is lightly barred and is lighter in color than the deeper orange on the rest of wing. ** 8806 TONHS Catocala parta; Mother Underwing; 70-85mm. The black dashes in the basal, subapical and anal areas help to identify this species. The hindwings may be yellow to yellowish-orange but more often are salmon-red. Note the face-head-like markings on the thorax. In the hindwing, the first (nearest the apex) black protrusion into the white fringe is "noticeably" larger than the others. ** 8798 TONHS Catocala neogama; 70-85mm. Note brown head, thorax & larger size as compared to palaeogama. Neogama slightly smaller than subnata, have darker grey brown fws with more pronounced markings. Hind tibia examination sometimes needed for id. Neogama': flattened & unevenly & sparsely spined; subnata: cylindrical with spines dense & uniform in distribution. Joe Garris photo. unijuga yes ** 8797 TONHS Catocala subnata; Youthful Underwing;: 75-90mm. Fws greyish white with blue-grey & light brown scales. subnata usually have hws brighter yellow than neogama. Neogama usually have basal dash; absent in male subnata, present in females. Magnification of hind tibia distinguishs two species: sub: cylindrical hind tibia; neo: compressed or flattened hind tibia. sub: tibia ventral surface densely covered with evenly distributed spines; neo: tibia ventral surface sparsely covered with sporadic spines. ** 8796 TONHS Catocala nebulosa; Clouded; 75-86mm. Moths have prominent dark brown upper-half-basal patch that extends to and ends at antemedial line. Apical area also tends to be brown, much darker than median area but not as dark as basal patch. The anal angle also has the darker brown scaling. The pm line is distinct near costa and inner margin, but becomes weak between the two. It meets inner margin in relative close proximity to am line. Closed subreniform spot is large and connects to the pm line via a thin line. ** 8804 TONHSCatocala marmorata; Marbled Underwing; 85-95mm; dark fw arc running from costa down through reniform spot to outer margin just below apex distinguishes this large species from all other "orange-pinkish-red" underwings. Subrenifrom spot light, bordered inwardly above by white patch, connected to pm line by a line rather than being open. endangered ??

Medium-Large Pink Underwings: Wingspans: 70-95mm ** 8833 TONHS concumbens Sleepy Underwing or Pink Underwing; 60-75mm. This brown thoracic collar is quite evident in this image as is the interruption in the pm line by the open subreniform spot. The white hindwing fringe is only lightly checked on the wing veins. The vibrant pink bans are distinct in colour and also in their relatively smooth contour. ** 8832 TONHS Catocala cara; Darling; 70-85mm. Fw deep maroon almost purple cast, mixed with very pale green. Lower half of am & pm lines barely visible. No distinctive bars or dashes. Two upper "teeth" on the pm line are thin and long. The hindwing bands are pink. There is heavy black checking on the off-white hindwing fringe. The relatively thick black median band of the hindwing almost reaches the inner margin which is usually heavily adorned with dark hairs. Tim Dyson image. ** 8834 TONHS amatrix Sweetheart Underwing; 75-95mm. Very skittish, frequently hides in caves, under bridges, under tree bark, etc. by day, resting with head down. Hw patterning and colouration are similar to that of Catocala concumbens, but large size and dark bar running from the basal area to just below apex distinguishes Catocala amatrix.